15 volleyball players in match-fixing scam

At least 15 professional volleyball players are under investigation for their alleged connection with a match-fixing scam, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors in Daegu said on Sunday they are investigating the players from four different teams for their alleged involvement in the scheme in the country’s top pro volleyball league. Five gambling brokers are also under investigation. The prosecutors are also looking into whether the suspects contacted other volleyball players in an attempt to fix matches.

The announcement came less than two weeks after the Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office arrested three volleyball players in the V-League on charges of match fixing.

Three players from Suwon-based KEPCO 45, including national team player Park Joon-bum, and one player from military team Sangmu Shinhyup received lifetime bans last week from the sport’s governing body after their arrests.

Park and his teammate Lim Si-hyung admitted to receiving 13 million won ($11,600) and 12 million won respectively from brokers through illegal gambling.

Recently, two players from the women’s top volleyball league also admitted their involvement in match fixing schemes, according to the prosecutors.

So far, the Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office has confirmed 15 match-fixing cases between the 2009 and 2011 seasons with at least 13 players in the men’s league and two players from the women’s league involved.

However, the number is expected to climb in the coming weeks as the prosecutors expand their investigations into other sports.

A broker arrested last month said he contacted two pitchers from a Seoul-based baseball team about rigging games, according to the prosecution.

In a separate probe, prosecutors also found last week a match-fixing scam in motor boat racing.

The prosecutors are now looking into whether the suspects contacted other volleyball players to fix matches.

Last year, the country’s professional football league was hit by the largest match-fixing scam in which more than a dozen active players were involved.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldm.com)